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Fire department supporters urge Liberty trustees to reconsider levies
By Sarah Lehr
LIBERTY
Trustees stood their ground, despite a plea from some attendees at a meeting Monday that they reverse their decision not to bring a fire department replacement levy before voters.
Local Chapter 2075 of the International Association of Fire Fighters took to Facebook urging township trustees to let residents vote on replacement levies of 1.3 mills and 0.9 mills each. Those levies are currently in effect as continuous levies, first approved in 1976. Since property values have increased since 1976, replacements of those levies would cost the taxpayer more and generate more revenue.
The existing 1.3-mill continuous fire levy generates $121,411 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $20.26 a year. If replaced to take into account 2016 property values, it would generate $272,682 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $45.50 a year. Currently, the 0.9-mill continuous fire levy generates $84,063 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $14.03 a year. A replacement of that levy would generate $188,780 annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home $31.50 a year.
Close to 20 people, many of whom are fire department employees, attended Monday’s meeting.
“I want to know why you are taking the decision out of the hands of the voters,” local union chapter president Justin Graham said, adding he would accept the decision of residents to vote no.
Fire Captain Cathy Macchione echoed that sentiment, saying, “We want to take care of our residents and treat them like family. We don’t want someone else coming in and doing it.”
Though the township has not recently laid off firefighters, the union contends slashed overtime pay and scheduling challenges with part-timers have, at times, forced the department to temporarily close one of its two stations and call in outside public or private ambulances. The union also cites increasing equipment costs.
Trustee Stan Nudell praised the fire department for its performance, but reaffirmed he would not vote to place an additional fire tax on November’s ballot. Nudell cited delinquent taxes rates, home foreclosures and strained incomes as signs that township residents could not bear additional taxation.
Trustee Jason Rubin complained of cuts in state funding to local governments. Rubin also said he would not ask township residents to approve new taxes, saying the fire department needed to work within its existing budget.
Trustees have agreed to place five-year renewals of a 1-mill fire levy, a 2-mill fire levy and a 2-mill police levy before voters in November.
Liberty residents pay 78.8-mills total in local taxes, not including taxes for county services such as the library. Fire services account for 11.95 mills and the Liberty school district taxes 52.05 mills total.